Harness shaft-tug.



0. P. HATFIELD.

HABREBfi EH3?! T56. APPLICATION run 0011, 1901.

Patented Nov. 3, 1908.

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CHESTER P. HATFIELD, OF LEBANON, OHIO.

HARNESS SHAFT-TUG.

Specification of Letters Patent.

Patented Nov. 3, 1908.

App1ication filed October 1, 1907. Serial No. 395,361.

To all whom it may concern:

Be it known that I, CHESTER P. HATFIELD, a citizen of the United States,residing at Lebanon, in the county of \Varren and State of Ohio, haveinvented certain new and useful Improvements in Harness Shaft-Tugs, ofwhich the following is a specification, ref erence being had to theaccompanying drawmgs.

My invention relates to improvements in that part of the harness of ahorse which is commonly known as a shaft tug or thill holder; and anobject of my invention is to provide a shaft tug which will benonslipable and stationary on the shaft, thereby saving the latter fromwear.

Another object of my invention is to provide a shaft tug which may beopened and which will obviate the necessity of passing the end of theshaft through the tug, whereby time in hitching the horse is saved.

A third object of my invention is to provide a shaft tug with devices towhich the holdback strap may be connected, whereby time is saved inhitching the horse; and, further, since the shaft tug grips the shafttightly, it will prevent the vehicle from crowding against the buttocksof the horse, in the event the breaking of a holdback strap while goingdown-hill. In the event of the breaking of a trace or whiille-tree, thehorse is prevented from leaving the shafts by the firm grip of the shafttugs upon the shafts.

A further object of my invention is to provide a shaft tug of thecharacter just described which will prove simple in construction,comparatively cheap in manufacture and cfiicient in use.

In the drawings illustrating the principle of my invention and the bestmode now known to me of applying that principle, Figure 1 is an end viewand Fig. 2 a side view of my new shaft tug; Fig. 3 is an end elevationshowing the tug opened; and Fig. 4.- is a section on the line 56 of Fig.1.

The body portion of the shaft tug is made up of two curved plates orbands N, O which are substantially semicircular 'in shape and are formedwith the inwardly-prqecting flanges K for holdin in place the rubberlinin Z. Instead of t ie rubber, any other resilicnt frictional materialmay be used, the object of the lining being to afford a firm grip on theshaft and thereby to hold the to N, O, securely in place and to save theshaft from that wear which results from the slip ping of the leathertugs or loops now so commonly in use. The curved plate N is formed witha laterally-extendin eye E through which is passed the hol back strap(not shown). It is further formed with the bosses P, I which lie onopposite sides of the cen' ter of the shaft tug. Through the boss Pextends a hinge-pin A upon the ends of which is pivotally mounted aD-shaped loop X through which is passed a strap from the backband of theharness (not shown), whereby the shaft tug is suspended. The latter isprevented from rising by passing a strap from the bellyband (not shown)through the D-shaped loop B pivotally mounted on the ends of the hingepin C which extends through the two-part boss I The hinge-pin C connectsthe curved plates N, 0 together.

Pivotally mounted upon the upper hin epin A at each end thereof is oneend. of a link hl the other end of which supports an end of the pin 1;and upon the latter is mounted free to swing a locking lever or latch Dthe free end F of which is curved to afford a suitable grip, and theupper end of which is formed with the ears Q between which lies the noseH. The latter is adapted to engage the teeth \V formed on the upper freeend of the curved band 0.

hen it is desired to open the shaft tug, the plates N, O are unclaspedby seizing the latch D by the grip F and drawing the latter outwardly inthe direction of the arrows Gr, Fig. 1. By the cam action of the ears Q,the nose H of the latch D is disengaged from the teeth W of the plate 0,thereby releasing the latter and allowing it to swing downwardly uponthe hinge-pin C, as is indicated by Fig. 2.

The shaft tug being opened, the shaft or thill of the vehicle is placedin the hollow of the curved plate N and the cooperating la 6 O is thenbrought up against the shaft. The two plates are clasped together byengaging the nose H of the latch D with the nearest tooth W and thenforcing the latch H at its free end F towards the shaft tug. The teeth Wprovide for different sizes of shaft or thill. The resilient lining Zsaves the shaft from marring and wear due to rubbin of the shaft by thetug, by affording a firm old upon the shaft so that there is no relativemotion between the latter and the tug. Should a trace break or thewhittletree become detached, the shaft tugs will still hold the shaftsand haul the vehicle. Thus,

accidents are avoided. Further, should the holdback strap break, theshaft tug by reason of its grip on the shaft would prevent the vehiclefrom striking the buttocks or rump of the horse. Time is saved inhitching the horse by reason of the holdback straps being attached. tothe shaft tugs and by reason of the driver being able to attach the tugand the shaft together without passing the end of the shaft through thetug.

I claim:

1. A tug consisting of a pair of curved plates, one of which is formedwith a series of teeth; a pair of links between which said teeth projectin the closed position of the plates, said links being pivotallyattached to the other of said plates; and a latch pi\'-- otallyconnected to an end of each of said links.

2. A tug consisting of a pair of curved plates hinged together, one ofsaid plates being formed with a series of teeth; and a latch pivotallymounted on the other of said plates and formed with a pair of carsbetween which lies a nose adapted to engage said teeth to lock saidplates together, said ears being cam-shaped and projecting be yond saidnose to engage said toothed plate.

3. A tug consisting of a pair of curved plates hinged together, one ofsaid plates being formed with a series of teeth; a pair of links betweenwhich lie said teeth in the closed position of the plates; a loop forthe attachment of the tug to the harness; a

hinge-pin which connects pivotally said:

loop, links and the other of said plates; and

a latch pivotally connected to said links.

In testimony whereof I have hereunto set my hand this fourth day ofSeptember, 1907,

at Dayton, Ohio, in the presence of the two undersigned witnesses.

CHESTER P. HATF I ELI). \Vitnesses:

EDWARD A. GAY, ALFRED MCCRAY.

